Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management provides students with an academic foundation and field experiences in preparation for the recreation, park and tourism professions. The program is comprised of three concentrations:

• The Park Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and protecting the natural, cultural and historic resources on which those opportunities depend. Complementary minors include Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation.
• The Recreation Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for individuals and community health and wellbeing through recreation and parks in public, nonprofit and commercial settings. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Nonprofit Studies, Event Planning,
• The Tourism Management concentration focuses on providing entrepreneurial services for tourism industries as well as sustainable tourism destination management. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Event Planning, Business Management.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management are not being accepted at this time. Students interested in Park Management should contact Andrew Lepp (alepp1@kent.edu). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang (pwang@kent.edu)

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Articulate the impact of inclusive policies and practices targeted toward underrepresented individuals and groups including, but not limited to disability, race and/or ethnicity, age, social class, gender and sexual orientation.
2. Identify principles of inclusion, modification and laws related to equal opportunity; and select strategies to mitigate barriers influencing recreation participation for people with disabilities.
3. Outline the historical, scientific and philosophical foundations of the field.
4. Differentiate the nature and scope of the industry, including critical aspects of program development, service development, management and the components of leisure service delivery systems and various providers and levels of recreation.
5. Analyze and apply common management roles, responsibilities and approaches applicable to the field and the leadership styles and practices related to personnel management.
6. Investigate public relations and marketing strategies, planning and development issues, and fiscal/budgetary management.
7. Illustrate site specific attributes in relation to the field and the components of professional practice for successful engagement with the site.
8. Model ethical, professional, appropriate behavior and the ability to communicate effectively in oral, visual and written forms.
9. Apply basic principles of the program development cycle for recreation services and modifications for inclusivity.
10. Engage in academic research, writing and evaluation of literature and data for evidence-based improvement of services in leisure science.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Park Management Concentration Requirements

Recreation Management Concentration Requirements

¹

With permission, students who complete RPTM 16000 and RPTM 16001 may register for HEM 20040.

Tourism Management Concentration Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Roadmaps

Park Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Recreation Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Tourism Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Applications to the B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management are not being accepted at this time. Students interested in Park Management should contact Andrew Lepp (alepp1@kent.edu). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang (pwang@kent.edu)

Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT)

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations&
2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization
3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Delivery:
  • Fully online
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus

Full Description

The Event Management undergraduate certificate prepares students with the introductory and practical skills they need to enter the event management workforce. The curriculum incorporates the newest technologies and emerging trends in the industry. Program faculty are experts in their fields and have decades of experience applying the skills they teach in the classroom.

Graduates are prepared with skill sets that allow them to secure exciting positions with leading employers at hotels, wineries, private clubs, casinos, sporting events, meetings, trade shows, cruise lines and restaurants; or to be self-employed as an event planner.

Students can apply all courses in the certificate toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Event Management.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations
2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization
3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management

Program Requirements

¹

Students in the certificate can register for this course without the prerequisites.

Graduation Requirements

• Delivery:
  • Fully online
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Apply the event planning process in the design, implementation and evaluation of special events.
2. Integrate event planning principles in a variety of settings including hospitality, sport, recreation and tourism.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Requirements

¹

With permission, students may register for HEM 33129, RPTM 36075 and SPAD 45022 without completion of the prerequisite courses.

²

A maximum of 3 credit hours of practicum may be used to fulfill minor requirements with advisor approval.

³

Students may select a special topic with advisor approval.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Work experience in hospitality or tourism is preferred.
• Goal statement describing professional and research goals
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Critically analyze and discuss managerial problems and issues related to tourism and hospitality.
2. Discuss and evaluate the social/economic, global/multicultural, operational and environmental issues facing hospitality and tourism management.
3. Formulate professional attitudes and opinions related to the hospitality and tourism industry.
4. Use, interpret and report industry data.
5. Disseminate professional vision in a hospitality and tourism setting.

Dual Degree with Master of Business Administration

Student have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration and the M.S. degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.

The dual M.B.A./M.S. degree prepares students for responsible leadership positions and provides an integrated hospitality and tourism education with an emphasis on regional, national and global implications of the field.

Dual Degree Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • Fully online

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate of this program will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations
2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization
3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and have earned a minimum 2.500 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Students are encouraged to declare the minor with a minimum of three to four semesters remaining before graduation and should meet with a faculty advisor to plan their course of study.

Program Requirements

¹

With permission, students may register for HEM 43030 without completion of the prerequisite courses.

²

Students are encouraged to complete the majority of the required courses in the minor before taking HEM 43092. Students may register for HEM 43092 (with permission) without completion of the prerequisite courses. Student who have completed a practicum/internship in another program area that had significant hospitality component may be able to substitute that practicum/internship for HEM 43092 in the minor with hospitality management faculty approval.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Event Management prepares leaders for the hospitality industry. The curriculum combines specialty classes in hospitality and business management, preparing graduates for well-compensated positions as managers in restaurants, hotels and resorts, cruise ships, amusement parks, destination marketing organizations, convention centers, country clubs and many more.

The Hospitality and Event Management major comprises three concentrations, each encompassing two of the following three focus areas. Students must choose one concentration that matches their interests and career preferences.

• The Event Management focus area emphasizes planning and managing events — from large to small and from corporate to personal — in addition to following protocols and ensuring safety and security during the events.
• The Hotel and Resort Management focus area emphasizes business skills such as managing staff and revenue, as well as the specific skills such as managing clubs and casinos.
• The Food and Beverage Management focus area emphasizes the business side of food, such as ordering and inventory, managing budgets and planning and pricing menus. In addition, students learn food science, food production and the pairing of food and beverages.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations
2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization
3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management
4. Formulate business decisions in hospitality and tourism management
5. Evaluate leadership principles necessary in the diverse and global hospitality and tourism industry

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

A minimum 3 credit hours of practicum experience must be in one of both of the concentration focus areas. A maximum 6 credit hours of HEM 43092 may apply towards major requirements.

Event Management/Food and Beverage Management Concentration Requirements

Event Management/Hotel and Resort Management Concentration Requirements

Food and Beverage Management/Hotel and Resort Management Concentration Requirements

Progression Requirements

Students must complete 400 hours of industry experience prior to taking HEM 33050 and HEM 43092.

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus
  • Kent Campus

Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Create outcomes, select measures, and plan assessment processes.
2. Collect and analyze data using the appropriate technique and interpret results in context.
3. Describe and plan for institutional politics and stakeholder positions related to the entire assessment process.
4. Apply technical knowledge (software and applications and systems) for assessment and institutional research.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
• Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
• Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
• Minimum 58 PTE score
• Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Students declared in a doctoral degree should enroll in the doctoral level version of these courses, if offered.

• Delivery:
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of education that meets the requirements of the College of Education, Health and Human Services.
2. Apply skills and competencies required in desired career paths.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Students wishing to declare the Professional Studies major must meet with either the program's coordinator or with the academic advisor within the College of Education, Health and Human Services to discuss their future academic and career goals and to develop an approved program of study. Ideally, students should begin the process for evaluation and program review at or near the time they have a minimum of 60 earned credit hours.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

This degree program may not be earned as a double major or dual degree with another major and cannot be earned as an additional degree after another degree at the same or higher level has been earned previously.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who have successfully completed a designated writing-intensive course may be waived from PROS 44004 with approval by the Professional Studies program coordinator. A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

State/Federal background checks may be required for practicum experiences. Students with prior work, internship, practicum, student teaching and/or field experience may be waived from PROS 44092 with approval by the Professional Studies program coordinator. However, the experiential learning requirement will still need to be met by a course or non-course activity. A maximum of 12 credit hours of PROS 44092 may apply toward graduation requirements.

Graduation Requirements

• No dual degree/major may be earned with the Professional Studies major.

• Delivery:
  • Mostly online
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus